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treacle
trea·cle [ trk'l ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. something cloying: something cloying or excessively sentimental
2. former antidote to poison: a preparation used in the past as an antidote to poison
3. U.K. food 
Same as  molasses (sense 1)

[14th century. Via Old French triacle, Latin theriaca< Greek thēriakē (antidotos) "(antidote to) poisonous animals" < thērion "wild or poisonous animal" < thēr "wild animal"]

Word History

Treacle retained its original meaning of "antidote" when it came into English, but it later gradually broadened out into "medicine," and the practice of disguising the unpleasant taste of medicine with sugar syrup led in the 17th century to its application to "molasses."
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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